Waterproof structure of connector

Abstract

A waterproof structure of a connector 1 is configured to waterproof a cable 40 including a sheath 41 surrounding a plurality of wires 42, and a connector housing 10 connected to the plurality of wires 42 extending from a tip portion 41E of the sheath 41. The waterproof structure includes a seal member 50 collectively covering the plurality of wires 42 between the cable 40 and the connector housing 10. The seal member 50 has one end fitted onto the sheath 41 and in which the plurality of wires 42 extend from the tip portion 41E with any arrangement relation, and another end fitted into the connector housing 10.

Description

BACKGROUNDField of the Invention[0001]The present invention relates to a waterproof structure of a connector attached to a tip of a wire conductive portion.Related Art[0002]As a waterproof structure of a connector in which a plurality of wires are led into and connected to a housing, a technology disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2013-97898 has been known. In this technology, in order to prevent an intrusion of water or the like into an outer sheath in which the plurality of wires are bundled together, a rubber plug is fitted onto a tip (a led-out portion of the wires) of the outer sheath and the wires are individually inserted through a plurality of through holes provided in the rubber plug in a predetermined posture (at a predetermined angle), respectively, thereby stopping an opening (a gap between each wire and the outer sheath) of the tip of the outer sheath.[0003]However, in this configuration, in a case where an inserted wire deviates from th...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text describes a new design for a connector housing for a multicore cable that provides waterproof performance and is small in size. The design uses a waterproof member that collectively waterproofs the area from the connector main body to the outer sheath of the cable, eliminating the need for a waterproof member to stop the opening of the tip of the outer sheath. This reduces the length and diameter of the connector. The wires extend into the waterproof member without needing to deform them, resulting in better operability. The lip of the waterproof member can follow the deformation of the cable, further improving the waterproof performance. The connector seal lip is efficiently adhered to the inner cylinder portion by facing stresses generated at the seal lip and the auxiliary connector seal portion with the same position. Overall, this design provides a guarantee of waterproof performance while keeping the connector small in size.

Problems solved by technology

However, in this configuration, in a case where an inserted wire deviates from the predetermined posture (angle), a shape followability of the rubber plug is insufficient and thus a gap may be generated between the wire and the rubber plug to impair a waterproof performance.

For this reason, in a case where, particularly, a wire with a relatively large diameter is bent in the connector, it is difficult to decrease the length dimension.

Furthermore, since a rubber is interposed between the respective wires, it is difficult to implement a small diameter of the rubber plug and even a small diameter of the connector.

Therefore, in a case where the power wire is bent between the tip of the outer sheath and the connector main body, the bent portion is liable to affect even the tip of the outer sheath and it is thus difficult to fit a posture (angle) of the wire to the waterproof member at the tip of the outer sheath.

Images